Shloka 113

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

तमेव पूजयेद्भक्त्या द्वौ वा त्रीन्वा यथाविधि एकमप्यर्चयेद्भक्त्या ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम् दक्षिणाभिः प्रयत्नेन न बहूनल्पवित्तवान् //

Transliteration

tameva pūjayedbhaktyā dvau vā trīnvā yathāvidhi ekamapyarcayedbhaktyā brāhmaṇaṃ vedapāragam dakṣiṇābhiḥ prayatnena na bahūnalpavittavān //

Translation

With devotion one should honor that very worthy recipient—or, as prescribed, two or three. Even if only one is possible, one should worship with devotion a Brāhmaṇa who has reached the far shore of the Vedas; and a person of limited means should not invite many, but should earnestly offer fitting dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts) according to capacity.

Word by Word

• tam eva: that very (worthy person)

• pūjayet: one should honor/worship

• bhaktyā: with devotion

• dvau: two

• vā: or

• trīn: three

• vā: or

• yathā-vidhi: according to rule/ritual injunction

• ekam api: even one

• arcayet: one should worship

• brāhmaṇam: a Brāhmaṇa

• veda-pāragam: one who is fully learned in the Vedas (lit. has reached the far shore of the Vedas)

• dakṣiṇābhiḥ: with honoraria/gifts to priests

• prayatnena: with effort/earnestness

• na: not

• bahūn: many

• alpa-vittavān: one of small wealth/limited resources.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, on dharma and proper giving)

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• Veda
• Dakṣiṇā

Tags

• Dāna
• Brāhmaṇa-pūjā
• Dakṣiṇā
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Ritual injunctions

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it focuses on dharma in the form of proper worship of qualified Brāhmaṇas and measured giving (dakṣiṇā) according to one’s means.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It teaches responsible patronage: rather than spreading resources thin by inviting many, a person—especially one of limited wealth—should honor one (or two/three as prescribed) truly learned Brāhmaṇas with devotion and suitable dakṣiṇā, aligning charity with capacity and ritual correctness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is in yathāvidhi (doing the rite as enjoined) and in dakṣiṇā: correct procedure includes selecting a Veda-knowing Brāhmaṇa and giving an appropriate honorarium; no Vāstu/architecture rule is stated in this verse.